Hot water supply regulator



May 11, 1937. BEEMAN 2,079,650

HOT WATER SUPPLY REGULATOR Filed April '14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Mayll, 1937. L. BEEMAN I HOT WATER SUPPLY REGULATOR Filed April 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Zy/' $407141? BY ATTORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,079,650 HOT WATER SUPPLY REGULATOR Lyle Beem'an, Milwaukee, Wis. ,Application April 14, 1934, Serial No.'i2o,590

Claims.

This invention relates to regulators for do-' mestic hot water supply tanks and particularly for those of the type wherein the hot water enters the top of the tank from an external 5 heater.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical control system for hot water heaters automatically operable to maintain a predetermined supply of hot water in the top of the tank.

Another object is to provide an electrical control system of the character mentioned which may be readily adjusted to thereby regulate the amount of hot water automatically maintained.

Another object is to provide an electrical control system of the character'mentioned which may be readily adjusted to provide a predetermined temporary increase in the supply of hot water. as occasion may demand, and which will thereafter function to automatically maintain a supply of hot water in an' amount for which the system was initially set.

Another object is to provide a simple and improved remote controller' for an electrical system of the character mentioned which maybe located at any convenient point in a house or other building and readily manipulated to regulate and control the hot water supply.

Another object is to provide a dual controller for this purpose having two elements, one adjustable to regulate the amount of hot water permanently maintained in the tank, and the other adjustable provide a temporary increase in the hot water s pp y.

Another object is to simplify and improve each of the several elements which are included in a control system of this type.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure l is a diagrammatic illustration of an electrical control system constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the same applied to a well known type of hot water supply tank and heater.

Fig. 2 isa sectional view of a pilot burner for the heater equipped with a temperature responsive switch.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the pilot burner on a somewhat larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a sectional-view'of an electromagnetic switch for'coritrollingthe" supply of gas: to the heater.

without disturbing the first to Figs. 5 and 6 are vatiori, respectively, responds to the tempera tank.

Fig. 7 is a Sectional Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in troller.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of Fig. 8 on a larger scale.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the of Fig. 9.

The control system s shown in Fig. 1

tank IO of standard commer this instance is enclosed i applied to sulating material externally applied The tank is equipped w supply pipe l2. which pro thereof, a discharge pipe supply pipe [4 leading to the top thereof from an external heater l5 of a well known gas burning type.

In this instance is controlled by valve IS.

The valve shown view on the line 'l-'-'1 of views in section and rear eleof a thermostatic unit which ture of the water in the the consectional View on the line 9-9 of line ilkll ll-ll of elevation 1 elected for illustration is a hot water storage cial form which in n a jacket H of heat inthereto.

ith' the usual cold water jects into the bottom l3, and a hot water I the supply of gas to the heater an appropriate electromagnetic found to adequately serve the purpose. prises a hollow body connected at one end with the gas supply pipe end with a dischar into a burner lead A plunger 20$ coopera tion 2| in the valve body, therethrough, the plunger a flexible diaphragm 22 trolled by an electromagn priate linkage.

In this instance age is contained supporting plate body l6, and a fixed to the plate. is mounted on a lami lateral supporting arm within a 24, removably fixed to removable hood An L-shaped laminated armature 28 is plunger 20 into 23 isconnected 20 through a link 30.

toone side 32 of an in Fig. 4 has been 25, removably The coil of the electromagnet nated core 25 having a 21 fixed to the It com- I1 and provided at the other ge nozzle l8 which projects IS in a well known manner.

ting with a ported particontrols the flow of gas 20 being supported by and actuated and conet 23 through approthe electromagnet' 23 and linkhousing comprising a the valve plate 24. rockably the armature 28 away from direction to advance the The coil electrical 55" "is thus impossible to admit control circuit through suitable binding and 38, so that when energized the valve.

The heater i 5 is automatically ignited by a pilot burner 35 which receives its supply of gas from the inlet side of the valve l6 through a tube 36. In this instance the pilot burner 35 enters the heater 55 through a tubular structure 3'! having its inner end fixed in an opening in the wall of the heater by appropriate means such as a pair of clamp nuts 38 threaded on the tube.

A temperature responsive bi-metallic strip 39, mounted in the tube 3?, extends over and beyond the end of the burner 35 so as to be directly heated by the pilot flame. The strip 39 is secured and supported intermediate its ends preferably by ears 36 struck inwardly from the tube 31. The outer end of the strip 39 carries a pin 6| of insulating material which actuates and controls the movable element 42 of a switch, carried by a'plate d5 of insulating material fixed to the outer end of the tube 37 by clamp nuts 44. In the switch shown, the fixed contact member is in the form of a screw 45, adjustably fixed in a bracket 65 fixed to the plate 55. Screws 2? and 48-, which support the movable element 52 and the bracket it, constitute binding posts for the switch, the switch being through them connected in the control circuit in series with the electromagnetic valve iii.

The arrangement is such that so long as the strip 39 is heated by the pilot burner the switch element 42 is maintained in contact with the contact screw 65 to close the switch; but should the pilot burner become extinguished and the strip 39 become cool, the switch opens, thereby breaking the circuit and making it impossible to open the valve i5 by energizing its eleotromagnet. It gas to the heater l5 unless the pilot flame is burning and ready to ignite the burner of the heater.

A controller unit 49 and a thermostatic unit 58 are also connected in the control circuit in series with the valve 55 and the pilot controlled switch 85, the controller 89 being disposed at any convenient point in the house, ordinarily remote from the storage tank H, and the thermostat 56 posts 33 the system and coil 23 is plunger 28 is retracted to open the being applied to the tank so as to respond to the temperature of the water therein.

The thermostatic unit shown in detail in Figs. 5, and 7 is designed to respond to several predetermined temperatures. It includes a housing 5! having an open flanged base 52 for direct application to the tank I 8. A relatively wide, temperature responsive, bimetallic strip 53 is fixed at one end to the base 52 and extends thereacross, and at its other end carries a transversely extended presser bar 56 of insulating material which bears against the ends of a plurality of resilient strips 55, 56, 57 and 58 constituting the movable contact members of separate switches contained in the housing.

In this instance four switches are shown having their movable contact members 55, 56, 51, and 58 independently supported at their other ends upon separate screws 59 fixed in but insulated from the housing 5| and forming binding posts for the switches. Each switch shown also includes a stationary contact member in the form of a screw 65, each arranged to contact the movable member at a point intermediate the ends of the latter. The several screws 60 are threaded in a conductor plate 6! secured within the housing 5! by a screw 62 which constitutes a common binding post for the several switches. The binding post 62, plate 6|, and screw contacts 60 are insulated from the housing, the latter extending outwardly through the wall of the housing so as to be conveniently accessible for adjustment.

When the water in the tank I0 is cold, the bimetallic strip 53 is bent in such direction as to force the several switch members 55, 56, 51, and 58 into contact with their respective contacts 68, so that all the switches are then closed; and as the temperature of the water rises, the strip 53 tends to straighten out, thereby relieving the pressure between the bar 54 and the several members 55, 56, 57, and 53 and permitting the latter to withdraw from and break contact with their respective contacts 68. The several screws 65 are variously adjusted, so that the contact between them and their respective coacting members 55, 56, 51, and 58 is broken at difierent predetermined temperatures.

The several screw contacts 60 are electrically connected to the other side 63 of the electrical control circuit through the binding post 62 and plate 6|; and the several switch members 55, 56,

and 58 are separately connected to the controller unit 49 through separate leads 64, 65, 66, and 67 and their respective binding posts 59.

The controller unit shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 12 comprises a housing 49 having a removable base 68 of insulating material. The base 68 supports an arcuate series of upright contact mem- 76, 7!, l2, and 13, each having a lower contact face '34 for coaction with the finger 75 of a rotary switch member 76 and an upper contact face 17 for coaction with the finger 78 of a rotary switch member 79. The several contact members '18, H, 12, and 73 are provided with individual binding posts 88 connected respectively with the several leads 64, 65, 66, and 67.

A similar upright contact member 80, rising from the base 58, has similar lower and upper contact faces 74' and 1'! which maintain contact with offset arcuate portions 16' switch members 16 and 79, respectively.

The two switch members 76 and 19 are independently rotatable. The upper member 19 is fixed to a disk 82 of insulating material carried priate means, such as a spiral spring 95 anchored tends to rotate the counterclockwise (as viewed the lower switch member and to normally retain and 19' of the the fingers I5 and I9 in: the 'superposed re'lation I shown in Fig. 10. i

Provision is also made for 'yieldably' and 're-- leasably retaining the lowerswitch member I6 in any position into which it may be set. In this instance an electromagnetic brake'is provided for the purpose. It comprises a clip '91 carried by the rocker element 98 of an electromagnet and arranged to engage the periphery of the disk 89 when the coil 99 of the electromagnet is energized.

The electromagnet shown in Fig. 91s of the same type as that employed in the electromagnetic valve I6, the rocker element 98 being urged by a spring I00 to shift the brake element 91' out of contact with the disk 89 when the magnet is deenergized'. In this instance the core I0l of the electromagnet constitutes a support for the stem 9| to which it is rigidly secured. -One end I02 of the coil 99 is connected to the contact member 8|, as indicated in Fig. 11, and the other end I03 is connected througha suitable binding post (not shown) to that portion I04 of the electrical control circuit which also includes the pilot controlled switch 45 and the electromagnetic valve I6. v

The control circuit is energized from any appropriate power source, such as a commercial power circuit to which it is connected preferably through a step-down transformer I05;

The contact member 69 ofrthe controller 48 is dead, so that when the fingers I5 and I8 of the switch members I6 and I9 have been shifted into'contact therewith, the control circuit is broken, the valve I6 is closed, and the heater I5 is inactive. That condition is attained when the arm 84 and pointer 06 have been shifted to the 0 position on the scale 81 and when the knob 92 and pointer 93 has assumed the 0 position on the scale 94.

When it is desired to maintain a certain amount of hotwater in the tank I0, the switch member I9 is rotated, by manipulation of the arm 84, so as to cause the finger I8 to register with one of the four contact members I0, II, I2, or 13, in which position the pointer 86 is opposite one of the numerals 5, 10, 15, or 30 on the scale 81. If, for instance, the switch member I9 be thus set in the position shown, that side of the control circuit, including the connections 32 and I04, is connected to the switch member 56 of the thermostat through the coil 99, contact member 8|, arcuate portion I9 of switch I9, finger I8, contact member 1|, and lead 65, so that the electromagnetic valve I6, which controls the heater, is then controlled by the switch member 56 of the thermostat.

In the particular illustration, switch member 56 is in contact with its coacting screw 60, sothe circuit is closed, the valve I6 is open, and the heater I5 is supplying hot water to the tank III. This condition continues until the water temperature reaches a point such that the member 56 withdraws from contact with its screw 60, thereby breaking the circuit, closing the valve I6, and thus cutting off the supply of gas to the heater.

Thereafter, if, due to withdrawals or otherwise, the temperature of the water falls to a point where the member 56 again contacts its screw 60, the circuit is thus again closed, the valve I6 is again opened to admit gas to the heater, and the heater is automatically ignited by the pilot burner 35 and again supplies hot Water to the tank I0.

' It-will thus be understood thatw'ith the switch member I9 set in the position shown, the heater I5 is controlled by the member 56 and functions automatically to maintain a supply of hot water at a temperature predetermined by the position of the coacting screw 60. It will also be understood that by adjusting the member I9, so that its finger I8 registers with one of the other contact-members 10, 12 or I3, the heater may be placed under the control of one of the other members 55, 51 or 58 so as to automatically maintain the water supply at a higher or lower predetermined temperaturei The hot water supplied from the heater of course accumulates in the top of the tank, and it has been found that the temperature of the water, at the point of application of the thermostat 50 to the tank, corresponds substantially to the amount of hot water in the tank. That is to say, the greater the amount of hot water in the tank the higher the temperature and vice versa.

In this 'particular instance, the several screws 60 are set'so that their coacting members 55, 56, 51 and 50 will break contact therewith at temperatures which correspond respectively with 5 gallons, 10 gallons, 15gallons, or 30 gallons of hot water in the tank, so that by setting the arm 84 and pointer 86 of the controller 49 at any selected position on the scale 81 a corresponding amount of water will be automatically maintained in the tank. For example, in the position shown, the system will automatically maintain 10 gallons of hot water in the tank, and if it is desired to maintain a greater or less amount, the arm 84 and pointer 86 are shifted to the right or left from the position shown.

A temporary increase in the amount of hot water in the tank may be obtained by turning the knob 92 to effect clockwise adjustment (Figs. 8 and 10) of the switch member I6. For instance, if the switch member I9 be in the position shown, so as to normally maintain 10 gallons of hot water in the tank and occasion should arise demanding a temporary increase to 30 gallons, the knob 92 is turned clockwise until the pointer 93 is opposite the numeral 30 on the scale 94, so as to shift the finger I5 into contact with the contact member I3. Such adjustment closes the control circuit through the switch member 58 of the thermostat 50 so that the heater I5, under the control of member 56, continues to supply hot water to the tank until a temperature has been attained corresponding to 30 gallons of hot water, at which point the member 50 breaks contact with its screw 60, thereby breaking the control circuit and cutting off the heater.

It will be understood of course that the electromagnetic coil 99 is energized when the control circuit is energized, so that whenever the switch member I6 is manipulated in the manner above described, the brake member 91 is held by the electromagnet in contact with the disk 09 to thus retain the switch member 16 in the position to which it was manually set. However, when the circuit is later broken by the thermostat 50 the coil 99 is deenergized, the brake 91 is retracted, and the switch member I6 is returned by the spring 95 into a position where its finger I5 is again registered with the finger I8 of the switch member I9, the finger I5 being brought to rest in this latter position by engagement of the stop 96 thereon against the finger I0. Thereafter, when the increased supply of hot water has been consumed, the, amount of hot water automatically maintained in the tank is again determined by the position of the switch member I9.

Various changes may be made in the embodi ment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hot water supply system the combination of a water storage tank, a gas burning water heater therefor, and means controlled by the temperature of the water in the supply of gas to said system for controlling said heater to thereby normally maintain the Water in said tank at a predetermined temperature, an element adjustable to regulate the temperature thus maintained, and a second element independently adjustable to temporarily increase the temperature of the water in said tank.

2. In a hot water supply system the combination of a storage tank, a water heater connected to deliver hot water to said tank, control means for said heater automatically operable to normally maintain a predetermined amount of hot water in said tank, means adjustable to regulate the amount of hot water thus maintained, and additional means adjustable to provide a temporary increase in the amount of hot water thus maintained.

3. In a hot water supply system the combination of a water storage tank, a water heater therefor, control means for said heater automatically operable to normally maintain the water in said tank at a predetermined temperature, an element adjustable to effect a predetermined temperature increase, means efiective to retain said element in adjusted position until the predetermined increased temperature is attained, and means for automatically returning said element to an initial position when said increased temperature is attained.

4. In a hot water supply system the combination of a Water storage tank, a water heater therefor, control means for said heater automatically operable to normally maintain the water in said tank at a predetermined temperture, said means including an element adjustable to regulate the temperature thus maintained, a second element adjustable independently of said first element to efiect a predetermined increase in the temperature normally maintained, and means for retaining said second element in adjusted position until the increased temperature has been attained and for thereafter automatically returningthe same to an initial position.

5. In a hot water supply system the combination of a water storage tank, a Water heater therefor, an electrical system for controlling said heater to normally maintain the water in said tank at a predetermined temperature, an element adjustable to efiect a predetermined increase in the temperature normally maintained, electromagnetic means controlled by said system for releasably retaining said element in any position into which it has been adjusted until the increased temperature has been attained, and means for thereafter automatically returning said element to an initial position when said increased temperature has been attained.

LYLE BEEMAN. 

